The Eagles announced on Tuesday that they have signed tight end Brent Celek to a six-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2016 season.

Celek has emerged as a reliable playmaker in his first season as a full-time starter. A physical player with a tireless work ethic, Celek is one of the league's top tight ends in 2009 with 54 catches (7th among NFL TEs), 601 yards (5th) and five touchdowns (tied-4th). All of those numbers are career highs for Celek. In addition to his capabilities as a receiver, Celek has been a much improved blocker. Celek made a key block on LeSean McCoy's game-winning touchdown against Chicago on Nov. 22.

A fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2007, Celek became the first Eagles tight end to notch back-to-back 100-yard receiving games since Hall of Famer Pete Retzlaff in 1965. Celek had 104 receiving yards in Week 2 against New Orleans and 104 receiving yards the following week against Kansas City.

Celek took over as the starter midway through last season. At Seattle, Celek had a career-high six catches for 131 yards which included a career-long 44-yard reception. His 131 receiving yards were the most by an Eagles tight end since Retzlaff had 148 in 1965. In the playoffs, Celek set a team-playoff record with 10 catches in the NFC Championship game against Arizona. He also had 83 receiving yards and tied another team-playoff record with two touchdowns in that game.

Celek is the second Eagle in the last week to sign a contract extension as offensive tackle Winston Justice signed a four-year extension through 2013 last Tuesday.

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 10:19 a.m., December 1